Page:In a Steamer Chair and Other Stories.djvu/276

264 "Now," I said, "I want to speak with your sister, You may go."

The little one held on to her sister's hand and cried bitterly.

When the other was gone, I drew the child toward me and questioned her, but could not get a word in reply.

For the next day or two I was bothered some what by a big Irishman named O'Donnell, who was a firebrand among the steerage passengers. He would harangue them at all hours on the wrongs of Ireland, and the desirability of blowing England out of the water; and as we had many English and German passengers, as well as many peaceable Irishmen, who complained of the constant ructions O'Donnell was kicking up, I was forced to ask him to keep quiet. He became very abusive one day and tried to strike me. I had him locked up until he came to his senses.

While I was in my room, after this little excitement, Mrs. O'Donnell came to me and pleaded for her rascally husband. I had noticed her before. She was a poor, weak, broken-hearted woman whom her husband made a slave of, and I have no doubt beat her when he had the chance. She was evidently mortally afraid of him, and a look from him seemed enough to take the life out of her. He was